PET PORTRAIT FAQ

• How long will this take? Can I get it by Christmas/my spouse’s birthday/etc.?

  If you’re trying to get your portrait by a specific date, let me know, we can probably make it work! I have an increased volume of orders right before the winter holidays. Please order ahead if possible! I can defer shipping/delivery if you’re concerned about your gift-ee finding it. ;)

  • 6x6” portraits typically ship within a week.

  • For custom work, 1-2 weeks is typical. Turnaround time depends on the medium (oil paint takes several days to dry, acrylic dries within an hour) and complexity (how many pets, how much detail and other “stuff” is in there).

• Can you include/add/remove something in the photo?

  Including toys, collars, accessories, pet beds, etc. is no problem, as long as they’re already in the photo. Removal is usually OK, especially for small things like collars/tags, or background elements. Removing the entire background is also possible - I can replace it with a flat color, gradient, or other simple design.

  Multiple pets can be composited into one image - I know getting a photo of two pets at once can be a challenge!

  I can also add in a name, date, or other text, if you like.

• oil vs. acrylic… What’s the difference?

  Oil is generally regarded as superior in quality to acrylic. Oil paintings have a more “fine art” look: rich colors and a luminous, satin finish. It also comes with increased turnaround time (largely due to long dry times) and a higher price tag.

  Both options will resist fading, stand up to gentle cleaning, and last beyond your lifetime. Both are painted on canvas and can be hung directly on the wall - I wrap the color around the edges of the canvas to make sure each painting looks great even without a frame.

• What size should I get?

  Depends on where you plan to put it! I continue the painting around the edges of the canvas to make sure each painting looks nice even without a frame, but if you want to add one, remember this will add a few inches to your total dimensions.

  • 8x10” and 9x12” are great for display on a bookshelf, mantle, or similar nook. They also look perfect on a smaller wall, or as part of a gallery alongside other artwork or photos. (These are each around the same size as copy paper, if you want a quick visual!)

  • 11x14”, 16x20”, and 18x24” are common small-to-medium sizes, and the most frequently requested options for custom work. These look great hung on their own, or alongside similar sized work.

  • 20x30”, 24x36”, and beyond can definitely stand on their own! I love working in larger sizes, but remember that increased size means increased shipping costs, which can sometimes outweigh the cost of the painting itself. I can deliver paintings within the greater Houston area.

• Do you paint birds, reptiles, gerbils, horses, etc.?

  Yes! I don’t get to do these as often, so my portfolio is mostly dogs and cats, but I’m happy to paint whatever kind of furry, feathered, or scaled friend you have.

• i have another question!

  Email me! I typically respond within 24 hours.

PHOTO TIPS

A great portrait starts with a great photo.

Feel free to send me multiple photos, but here’s what I’m looking for:

• Great lighting is key. Check out the examples to the right to see how much of a difference good lighting can make! Backlighting, like a window, lamp, or other bright light behind your pet, is a common issue.
  (I wasn’t able to get a different photo from this client, unfortunately.)

• Clear, in-focus photos are also very important. No motion blur, no photos you took on your phone fifteen years ago. Bigger images/file sizes are preferable. About 1MB is great.

• Contrast between the subject and the background is helpful, especially if you want to keep the original background elements from the photo. Your white dog looks better on a colored blanket or in front of a dark background, than on a white or light blue blanket.

• I will crop and resize for you. Don’t worry about your photo’s dimensions not matching your portrait size.